Patton's Pick: The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

Leadership Resources for the Philanthropic Sector

This edition of Patton’s Picks features a personal favorite and early influence in my leadership journey: The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss. While the premise of working just four hours a week felt audacious when I first read it, Ferriss's provocative take on productivity, automation, and time design planted seeds that still resonate. I recently revisited his podcast and found many of his strategies still relevant today. Here’s why nonprofit leaders should revisit this classic:

• Time Liberation: Challenges traditional views on work and productivity, encouraging leaders to question what’s truly essential.

• Delegation & Automation: Offers practical ideas to streamline work and free up time for high-value leadership priorities.

• Lifestyle Design: Inspires intentional planning of your professional and personal life—a foundational practice in the Mastermind program.

 Dr. Patton McDowell, CFRE, MBA, is the creator of the innovative PMA Mastermind Leadership Program, a unique offering designed to elevate nonprofit leaders through comprehensive training and peer collaboration. He is also the author of the best-selling book, Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, and host of the weekly podcast with the same name, available here. Since founding PMA Nonprofit Leadership in 2009, Patton has strategically guided over 300 nonprofit organizations to achieve their fullest potential. A Certified Fundraising Executive and Master Trainer for AFP Global, he serves as Executive in Residence at Cornell University's Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy and as Director of the Institute for Philanthropic Leadership.

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